Topic 1: Human Needs: Past and Present
Hello everyone! Welcome to our first journey back in time. Ever wondered how people lived thousands of years ago? What did they eat? Where did they live? It might seem very different from our lives today, but you'll be surprised to find we have a lot in common. We all have basic needs like food, water, and shelter.
In this chapter, we'll explore two big questions:
1. How did meeting basic needs lead early humans to create amazing civilisations?
2. What are the main features that all these early civilisations shared?
Let's get our history detective hats on and find out!
The Stone Age: From Surviving to Thriving
Our story begins in the Stone Age. This is part of what we call pre-historic times – a period before writing was invented. So, how do we know about it? Through clues left behind, like old bones, tools, and cave paintings!
Life as a Hunter-Gatherer
Imagine your life without supermarkets, houses, or even farms. Early humans lived as nomads, which means they didn't have a permanent home. They were always on the move to find food!
- Hunting and Gathering: Men usually hunted animals for meat, while women and children gathered edible plants, fruits, and nuts.
- Simple Stone Tools: They were masters of survival! They learned to make simple tools by chipping stones. These tools helped them cut meat, scrape animal skins for clothing, and defend themselves. Think of it like the first-ever multi-tool!
- The Power of Fire: Discovering how to control fire was a massive game-changer. It provided warmth, cooked food (making it safer and tastier), and scared away dangerous animals.
A Revolutionary Idea: Farming!
For thousands of years, humans were nomads. But then, something incredible happened that changed everything: agriculture.
Agriculture is just a fancy word for farming – learning to plant seeds and grow crops. At around the same time, people also started the domestication of animals, which means they tamed animals like goats, sheep, and cattle for milk, meat, and to help with farm work.
Why was this so important?
- A Steady Food Supply: No more wandering around hoping to find food. They could grow it right where they were!
- Settling Down: Since they didn't have to move anymore, people started building permanent homes and villages.
- More People: With more food, the population grew. Villages slowly turned into towns, and towns turned into cities.
Did you know? Archaeologists have found Stone Age tools and pottery right here in Hong Kong, especially on islands like Lamma and Lantau. This tells us that people have been living in this region for a very, very long time!
Key Takeaway
The shift from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a settled, agricultural one was a crucial step for humanity. It allowed people to have a stable food source, live in one place, and form larger communities.
How We Know Stuff: A Historian's Detective Kit
Before we go any further, let's talk about how historians work. Historians are like detectives trying to solve a mystery called "the past". Their clues are called historical sources.
There are two main types of clues:
1. Primary Sources:
These are "eyewitness" accounts or items from the time period we are studying. They were created by people who were actually there!
- Examples: A diary, a letter, a photograph, an old pot (archaeological finding), or even a building. These are raw, first-hand evidence.
2. Secondary Sources:
These are created *after* the event by people who were not there. They study primary sources to create their work.
- Examples: Your history textbook, a documentary on TV, or a biography written about a historical figure. They help us understand and interpret the primary sources.
Sources can also be written (like a book or a law code) or non-written (like a tool, a painting, or a building).
Quick Review Box
Primary Source = From the time (An eyewitness).
Secondary Source = Made later (A reporter).
It's important to use both to get a full picture of the past!
The Birth of Civilisations
So, people have settled down, they're farming, and villages are growing. What's next? The rise of civilisations! A civilisation is a complex, organised society.
Think about it step-by-step:
Step 1: Surplus Food
Thanks to farming, people grew more food than they needed. This extra food is called a surplus.
Step 2: Division of Labour
With a food surplus, not everyone had to be a farmer. People could specialise in different jobs. Some became artisans (making pottery or tools), some became priests, and others became soldiers. This is called the division of labour.
Step 3: Growth and Organisation
As populations grew into cities, life became more complicated. People needed leaders to make decisions, laws to keep order, and systems to manage everything. This led to the formation of governments.
These developments were the recipe for the world's first civilisations, which grew up along rivers in places like the Fertile Crescent, the Nile Valley, the Indus Valley, and the Huanghe Valley.
Key Takeaway
The ability to produce surplus food through agriculture was the key that unlocked the development of complex societies, or civilisations. It allowed people to do more than just focus on survival.
What Makes a Civilisation? The 5 Key Features
So, what makes a village different from a civilisation? Historians look for five main characteristics. Don't worry if this seems like a lot to remember, we'll break it down!
Memory Aid!
To remember the 5 features, think of the phrase: "We Go Climb Rocky Arches".
W - Writings
G - Government
C - Cities
R - Religion
A - Architecture and Science
Let's look at each one:
1. Writings: Civilisations developed systems of writing to keep records of laws, trade, and history. For example, recording how much grain was stored or listing the names of kings.
2. Government and Governance: As cities grew, they needed leaders and laws to keep society orderly and safe. This included kings, officials, and an army for protection.
3. Cities: Civilisations had cities that were centres of population, trade, and culture. They were the main hubs of activity.
4. Religion and Belief: People in ancient civilisations usually shared a common religion. This included beliefs in gods and goddesses, and was often led by powerful priests. They built temples and performed rituals.
5. Architecture and Science: Civilisations built large, impressive public buildings like temples and tombs. They also made advances in science and technology, such as creating calendars, inventing the wheel, or developing mathematics.
Case Study: Let's Explore the Nile Valley!
Your syllabus asks you to study ONE of the four earliest civilisations. Let's use Ancient Egypt in the Nile Valley as our example. It's a perfect case study to see the 5 features in action!
Civilisation: Ancient Egypt (along the Nile River in Africa)
1. Writings: The Egyptians developed a beautiful picture-based writing system called hieroglyphics. They carved it on temple walls and wrote it on papyrus scrolls.
2. Government: The ruler of Egypt was a powerful king called the Pharaoh, who was believed to be a living god. The Pharaoh had officials to help govern the kingdom and enforce laws.
3. Cities: Major cities like Memphis and Thebes were built along the Nile River, which was the lifeblood of Egypt (providing water for farming and transport).
4. Religion: The Egyptians were polytheistic, meaning they worshipped many gods, like Ra (the sun god). They had a strong belief in an afterlife, which is why they developed mummification to preserve bodies for the next world.
5. Architecture and Science: The Egyptians were incredible builders! They built the massive Pyramids as tombs for their Pharaohs and grand temples. They also made advancements in medicine, engineering, and mathematics to help them build these structures.
Feeling Adventurous?
Now that you've seen how it works with Egypt, you can try exploring another civilisation (like the Fertile Crescent, Indus Valley, or Huanghe Valley) and compare how they were similar or different. This is what historians do!
Chapter Summary
What a journey! We've seen how the simple human need for food transformed our world.
- Early humans went from being nomadic hunter-gatherers to settled farmers through the invention of agriculture.
- This new way of life led to food surpluses, bigger populations, and new jobs, which allowed the first civilisations to form.
- All early civilisations share five key characteristics: Writings, Government, Cities, Religion, and Architecture/Science.
The foundations built by these ancient peoples thousands of years ago still influence our world today. Keep being curious, and keep asking questions about the past!